Thon Maker, all 7’1″ of him, sat in economy class to get flight going
If you are six-foot or taller, economy class on a modern airline feels cramped. But at least the airlines make up for it with a delicious full meal a bag of peanuts and a free movie.
Can you imagine a 7’1″ guy in economy?
The Bucks’ Thon Maker did it on a recent United flight and the passenger next to him Paul Kuzma posted about it on Facebook (hat tip to onmilwaukee.com).
Well, a missed #United flight found me on a rebooked one. After ending up in an upgraded Economy Plus (yay!) middle seat (not so yay!), volunteers were asked one by one, row by row, if one would relocate to the last row of the plane, middle seat….
My heart leapt again when I came to the last row and BOTH the middle AND aisle seats were open! I stowed my gear in the middle seat area but sat in the aisle seat, hoping.
Alas, it was too good to be true! Moments later, a 7’1″ tall young man who could not even stand completely straight in the aisle of the plane made his way our direction. My heart sunk, not for me, but for him! I saw him emerge from an Economy Plus window seat!
I told him I was so sorry, knowing this would be uncomfortable for him. He nonchalantly said it was worth it to get this delayed flight going. He had practice to attend in the morning and had a 2+ hour drive to get where he was headed after landing….
I had to ask how in the world he ended up in the last row. He also had missed a flight and was rebooked on this one. He was assigned his original FIRST CLASS seat. He had settled in there when a flight attendant told him the person who had paid for that seat on THIS flight had shown up, albeit very late. They had to move him to Economy Plus.
Once there for a while, his story mirrors mine. Requests were being made for someone to move to the last row and no one was volunteering. So he volunteered, wanting the flight to begin.
He couldn’t even fit his knees into the Economy seat! Every time the snack cart came by or someone had to use the restroom, he had to get up and move out of their way.
The entire flight, there was not a hint of resentment in his voice. He was even happy to allow me a picture with him and an autograph. Class act, Thon!
Somewhere a cranky old NBA player is saying “we always used to have to fly commercial…” and sorry old man, but that doesn’t make it easy or right. There’s a reason NBA teams moved away from that (and it wasn’t to save money).
Good on Maker for being willing to sacrifice when plenty of other normal-sized people couldn’t be bothered.
And if the name Kuzma is familiar, the author says his is the second cousin once removed of the Lakers’ rookie Kyle Kuzma.
Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 29999 Location: Likely nowhere near you
Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 12:14 pm Post subject:
venturalakersfan wrote:
I once saw a 7-8 guy get in an Acura sedan.
I saw him, too! _________________ Courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying...'I will try again tomorrow.'
Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 3079 Location: Portugal
Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2017 1:32 am Post subject:
I am 6'1'' and once got the last row on a KLM 737. My knees were touching the front seat magazine pouch.
Another time BA's 777 from Newark to London, last row. Forget it. _________________ -----------------------------------------------------
http://www.youtube.com/user/NBAMadeira
Thon may have something valuable inside him, that which enabled him to endure suffering and remain outwardly cool. That stuff can't hurt his chances to work hard and make it in the league.
I'm just 6'2" 190 and I get uncomfortable in any economy row, but man - the last row of a commercial flight is pretty bad and when the plane is full it's worse. The restrooms, its line and the food prep areas are right there too.
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